Disclaimer

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has added a link to a translation service developed by Microsoft Inc., entitled Bing Translator, as a convenience to visitors to the DEC website who speak languages other than English.

Starting in July 2007, each State, or where applicable local, agency is required to "adopt and submit to the Regional Administrator an annual monitoring network plan which shall provide for the establishment and maintenance of an air quality surveillance system that consists of a network of SLAMS monitoring stations including FRM, FEM, and ARM monitors that are part of SLAMS, NCore stations, CSN stations, State speciation stations, SPM stations, and/or, in serious, severe and extreme ozone nonattainment areas, PAMS stations, and SPM monitoring stations." This document is prepared and submitted as part of the fulfillment to these requirements.

1.1 Background

New York State began a concerted effort to control the air pollution problem back in 1957, when the State Legislature enacted one of the nation's first comprehensive air pollution control laws. An Air Pollution Control Board was established to develop and direct a public information program for monitoring contaminant levels, and to conduct area studies and inventories outlining major problems. In December 1964, New York State developed air quality standards to protect its citizens against adverse health effects. These standards provided a long-range planning tool and established numerical air quality limits for the following contaminants: particulates, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxidants, hydrogen sulfide, fluoride, beryllium and sulfuric acid mist.

In 1966 the Legislature responded to the increasing pollution levels by restructuring the administrative authority into the Department of Health, under which the Division of Air Resources was created. Major legislation was also introduced to provide increased efficacy of rules and regulations. That year also marked the severe New York City Thanksgiving holiday air pollution episode brought upon by a temperature inversion that lasted through the weekend.

By the time when the first Earth Day was held in 1970, it had become apparent that pollution abatement strategies in place were inadequate, and air quality-along with water quality and solid waste-became cornerstones of the emerging U.S. environmental conscience. The 1970 Clean Air Act Extension, and the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in that same year, were defining moments in the history of air quality in this country.

Another development which has had a major effect on air pollution control in New York State was the creation of the Department of Environmental Conservation in 1970. The Division of Air Resources was transferred to the new Department and its administrative functions restructured and streamlined. Nine new regional offices were established to carry out responsibilities relating to pollution control of sources within their respective part of the State.

In 1977, the first set of Clean Air Act amendments was adopted because many states failed to meet mandated targets. One of the most effective of these was the New Source Review (NSR), which addresses older facilities that had been "grandfathered" by the original law. In 1990, additional amendments to the Clean Air Act included provisions for attainment and maintenance of national ambient air quality standards, mobile sources, air toxics, acid deposition control, permits, stratospheric ozone and global climate protection, enforcement; visibility improvement near National Parks, and other provisions relating to research, development and air monitoring.

In 1997, EPA announced more strict national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone, the primary constituent of smog. After a lengthy scientific review process, including extensive external scientific review, EPA determined that these changes were necessary to protect public health and the environment. The new standard was intended to be more protective of the health of children and adults who play and work outdoors in the summer. In establishing the 8-hour standard, EPA set the standard at 0.08 parts per million (ppm) as an average over an 8-hour period and defines the new standard as a "concentration-based" form, specifically the 3-year average of the annual 4th-highest daily maximum 8-hour ozone concentrations. EPA also added new standards, using PM2.5 as the indicator for fine particles (with PM2.5 referring to particles with a nominal mean aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 µm), and retained PM10 standards for the purpose of regulating the coarse fraction of PM10 (referred to as thoracic coarse particles or coarse-fraction particles, generally including particles with a nominal mean aerodynamic diameter greater than 2.5 µm and less than or equal to 10 µm, or PM10-2.5). EPA established two new PM2.5 standards: an annual standard of 15 µg/m3 based on the 3-year average of annual arithmetic mean PM2.5 concentrations from single or multiple community-oriented monitors; and a 24-hour standard of 65 µg/m3, based on the 3-year average of the 98th percentile of 24-hour PM2.5 concentrations at each population-oriented monitor within an area. These new standards were challenged by industry and in May of 1999 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Court ruled that U.S. EPA must reconsider the new 8-hr ozone and fine particulate standards. The court did not throw out the standards, but ruled that U.S. EPA could not enforce them. On February 27, 2001, the Supreme Court substantially reversed the ruling of the lower court. The Supreme Court remanded the case to the Court of Appeals for resolution of any remaining issues that had not been addressed in that court's earlier rulings. In March 2002, the Court of Appeals rejected all remaining challenges to the standards.

In December 2006, EPA issued the final rule revising the NAAQS for PM to provide increased protection of public health and welfare, respectively. EPA revised the level of the 24-hour PM2.5 standard to 35 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) and retained the level of the annual PM2.5 standard at 15µg/m3. With regard to PM10, the 24-hour standard was retained, but the annual PM10 standard was revoked.

The current 8-hr ozone standard of 0.075 ppm, effective since May 27, 2008 is under reconsideration and will most certainly be revised to a lower value. The final rule is expected this August.

In November 2008 EPA revised the NAAQS for lead from the previous quarterly average of 1.5µg/m3 to the more protective 3-month rolling average of 0.15µg/m3. As part of the lead monitoring requirements, monitoring agencies are required to monitor ambient air near lead sources which are expected to or have been shown to have a potential to contribute to a 3-month average lead concentration in ambient air in excess of the level of the NAAQS. At a minimum, monitoring agencies must monitor near lead sources that emit 1.0 ton per year (tpy) or more. Monitoring is also required in each Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) with a population equal to or greater than 500,000 people as determined by the latest available census figures. Revisions to the monitoring requirements pertaining to where State and local monitoring agencies would be required to conduct lead monitoring were finalized and became effective January 26, 2011. The new regulations replaced the population oriented monitoring requirement with a requirement to add Pb monitors to the urban NCore monitors. The EPA also lowered the emission threshold from 1.0 tpy to 0.50 tpy for industrial sources of lead (e.g., lead smelters and foundries). However, the emission threshold for airports was maintained at 1.0 tpy. In addition, an airport monitoring study has been implemented to determine the need for monitoring of airports which emit less than 1.0 tpy of lead. Under this new rule lead monitoring is required for a minimum of one year at 15 additional airports that have been identified as having characteristics that could lead to ambient lead concentrations approaching or exceeding the lead NAAQS. Brookhaven and Republic airports in Suffolk County, New York have been designated as such. The Brookhaven study was completed in October, 2012, and the Republic Airport monitoring concluded in October 2013.

The annual NAAQS for NO2 is set at 0.053 ppm. In 2010 EPA revised the NAAQS to include an hourly standard of 0.100 ppm. Under the new NO2 rule that became effective January 22, 2010 each MSA with population larger than 500,000 will be required to operate a near-road monitor beginning in 2013. On March 7, 2013, EPA issued a final rule to revise the deadlines by which the near-road monitors within the NO2 monitoring network are to be operational. States and local agencies are required to begin operating the near-road component of the NO2 network in phases between January 1, 2014 and January 1, 2017. This replaces the 2010 rule requirement that originally required all new NO2 monitors to begin operating on January 1, 2013. The near-road site in Buffalo commenced operation in April, 2014. Preparations are underway for two remaining sites in Rochester and Queens. The details will be published in an addendum to this plan when they are finalized.

In June, 2010, EPA established a new 1-hour SO2 standard at a level of 75 parts per billion (ppb), based on the 3-year average of the annual 99th percentile of 1-hour daily maximum concentrations. Additionally, both the 24-hour and annual primary SO2 standards were revoked. EPA also established requirements for SO2 monitoring in areas where there is an increased coincidence of population and SO2 emissions.

On Dec. 14, 2012 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strengthened the nation's air quality standards for fine particle pollution to improve public health protection by revising the primary annual PM2.5 standard from 15 to 12 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) and retaining the 24-hour fine particle standard of 35μg/m3. The new standards became effective on March 18, 2013.

Through the years, ambient monitoring has always been an important and integral part of the overall effort to manage our environmental resources. The Bureau of Air Quality Surveillance, which was originally established in the Division of Air Resources under the Department of Health in 1966, has been performing ambient air monitoring since.

1.2 Topography and Climate of New York State

New York State contains 49,576 square miles, inclusive of 1,637 square miles of inland water, but exclusive of the boundary-water areas of Long Island Sound, New York Harbor, Lake Ontario, and Lake Erie. The Adirondacks cover most of the northeast and occupy about one-fourth of the state's total area. The Appalachian Highlands, including the Catskill Mountains and Kittatinny Mountain Ridge (or Shawangunk Mountains), extend across the southern half of the state, from the Hudson River Valley to the basin of Lake Erie. Between these two upland regions, and also along the state's northern and eastern borders, lies a network of lowlands, including the Great Lakes Plain; the Hudson, Mohawk, Lake Champlain, and St. Lawrence valleys; and the coastal areas of New York City and Long Island.

The climate of New York State is broadly representative of the humid continental type, which prevails in the northeastern United States, but its diversity is not usually encountered within an area of comparable size. The geographical position of the state and the usual course of air masses, governed by the large-scale patterns of atmospheric circulation, provide general climatic controls. Differences in latitude, character of the topography, and proximity to large bodies of water have pronounced effects on the climate.

The planetary atmospheric circulation brings a great variety of air masses to New York State. Masses of cold, dry air frequently arrive from the northern interior of the continent. Prevailing winds from the south and southwest transport warm, humid air, which has been conditioned by the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent subtropical waters. These two air masses provide the dominant continental characteristics of the climate. The third great air mass flows inland from the North Atlantic Ocean and produces cool, cloudy, and damp weather conditions. This maritime influence is important to New York's climatic regime, especially in the southeastern portion of the state, but it is secondary to that of the more prevalent air mass flow from the continent.

The prevailing wind is generally from the west in New York State. A southwest component becomes evident in winds during the warmer months while a northwest component is characteristic of the colder one-half of the year.

The climate of the state features much cloudy weather during the months of November, December, and January in upstate New York, especially those regions that adjoin the Great Lakes and Finger Lakes and include the southern tier of counties. From June through September, however, about 60 to 70 percent of the possible sunshine hours are received. In the Atlantic coastal region, the sunshine hours increases from 50 percent of possible in the winter to about 65 percent of possible in the summer.

The Atlantic Coastal Plain and lower Hudson Valley experience conditions of high temperature and high humidity with some frequency and duration during the summer. By comparison, such conditions occur less frequently in the broad interior of New York State where they are usually shortened by the arrival of cooler, drier air masses from the northwest.

1.3 Population and Demographics

The US Census Bureau data for 2010 provide the following information for the State and 13 Metropolitan Areas of New York. The New York portion of the NY-NJ-CT-PA CMSA population numbered 13,038,826, constituting 69% of the State's total residents.

Table 1.1 2010 Census Population for Major Metropolitan Statistical Areas in New York

MSA

2000

2005*

2010

2013*

Difference
(2000-2013)

%

Albany-Schenectady-Troy

875,583

848,879

870,716

877,905

2,322

0.27

Binghamton

252,320

248,422

251,725

247,777

-4,543

-1.8

Buffalo-Niagara Falls

1,170,111

1,147,711

1,135,509

1,134,115

-35,996

-3.08

Elmira

91,070

89,512

88,830

88,506

-2,564

-2.82

Glens Falls

124,345

128,572

128,923

128,430

4,085

3.29

Ithaca

96,501

100,018

101,564

103,617

7,116

7.37

Kingston

177,749

182,693

182,493

180,998

3,249

1.83

Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown

621,517

667,742

670,301

672,508

50,991

8.2

Nassau-Suffolk

2,753,913

2,808,064

2,832,882

2,851,884

97,971

3.56

New York-White Plains

9,314,235

9,477,427

9,908,456

10,071,134

756,899

8.13

Rochester

1,098,201

1,039,028

1,054,323

1,083,278

-14,923

-1.36

Syracuse

732,117

651,763

662,577

661,934

-70,183

-9.59

Utica-Rome

299,896

297,885

299,397

297,766

-2,130

-0.71

State Total

18,976,457

19,976,457

19,378,102

19,651,127

674,670

3.56

* Census Bureau estimation

According to Census Bureau, the NY state population in 2010 totaled 19,378,102, the third most populous State in the nation. The population change from 2000 indicates a net increase of 674,670 for the entire State. The State saw a modest growth overall in the 13-year period, mostly in the downstate areas at the expense of the western MSAs. A population density map by county based on the 2010 data is depicted in Figure 1.1

Figure 1.1 Population Density in New York State by County

Environmental Justice Areas

Environmental justice (EJ) is defined as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

Environmental justice efforts focus on improving the environment in communities, specifically minority and low-income communities, and addressing disproportionate adverse environmental impacts that may exist in those communities.

A map of potential EJ areas in the State is shown in Figure 1.2. Approximately 37% of New York's population resides in potential EJ areas. In our network, there are 19 air monitors, 14 of which downstate, sited within areas designated as such. The number of air monitoring sites located in potential EJ areas is commensurate with the population percentage residing therein. In the populous downstate area, 61% of the network monitors are located in potential EJ areas, in which 52% of the population lives.

Figure 1.2 Potential Environmental Justice Areas in New York State

Sensitive Sub-Populations

Children, the elderly, and people with underlying health issues may be more susceptible to the deleterious effects associated with air pollution, and are considered to be under the sensitive sub-populations category. Sixteen monitoring sites in the network are located on public school grounds, where attending students are of grade school to high school age.

Citizens groups often bring attention to NYSDEC the areas where they believe have high incidences of health related problems due to air pollution, such as asthma, respiratory diseases, and cancer clusters. Where possible we try to accommodate concerned citizens by providing air quality data from nearby monitoring sites. For example, IS 143 serves the Lower Washington Heights Neighborhood Association; and IS 74 the Nos Quedamos Community Development Corporation. In the case of the Clean Air Coalition of WNY, we were able to obtain EPA funding to carry out the Tonawanda Community Air Quality Study. In the Community Air Screen Program that began in the fall of 2012, 90% of the selected community groups are in or within half mile of potential EJ areas.

Manual sampling programs began in 1958. Most of the early sampling stations measured suspended particulates, settleable particulates, and sulfation (an indicator of sulfur dioxide concentration). The early monitoring system employed high volume samplers, and for the first year, operated on a daily basis. Subsequently sampling was reduced to a 1-in-6 day schedule, after statistical analysis of the first year's data indicated that such sampling frequency would provide an adequate representation of particulate pollution. By 1964, the manual monitoring system had evolved to 104 full-time stations, 140 stations by 1970, and 250 by the mid 70's.

New York was among the first to install and operate a continuous air quality monitoring system. The parameters monitored in the early 70's included: sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, total hydrocarbons, soiling, and meteorological data.

Trace metal analysis of high volume sampler filters was initiated in 1979. Historically the NYS Department of Health provided laboratory services until 2003, when the positions funded by our Department for the analysis work were eliminated due to a statewide workforce reduction. The lead analysis continued until 2005. The lack of formal funding mechanisms between the two state agencies precluded the continuation of laboratory analysis support. The necessary laboratory work is now provided by a contract laboratory.

In 1986, New York began measuring inhalable particulates using high volume air samplers with a 0-10 micron size selective inlet. In the same year the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network was also established. In 1987, EPA revised the PM standard to regulate PM10.

In accordance with the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, in 1994 BAQS established the first of two ambient air monitoring sites for enhanced ozone monitoring called Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations (PAMS) to collect and report detailed data for volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, ozone and meteorological parameters.

BAQS began implementing the PM2.5 monitoring networks of FRM and TEOM monitors in 1998. At its peak, there were 46 FRM instruments deployed. After sufficient data were obtained for attainment determination, FRM sites were reduced and some sites were augmented with TEOM instruments in order to provide realtime inputs for EPA's AIRNow website for Air Quality Index (AQI) reporting.

Figure 2.1 Location Map of Ambient Air Monitoring Sites in New York State, Excluding NYC

Figure 2.2 Location Map of Ambient Air Monitoring Sites in NYC

2.1 Monitoring Related Research and Investigations

In addition to the routine monitoring work, bureau staff collaborate with researchers from other agencies and academic institutions on a multitude of air pollution related studies. Over the years we have participated in research projects with the following partners: New York State Department of Health, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, State University of New York, Albany, Clarkson University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rutgers University, Drexel University, University of Rochester Medical Center, Desert Research Institute, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, City University of New York, and Columbia University. These endeavors provided valuable data for the regulatory, scientific, and health research communities. Study findings are communicated through journal publications, as well as presentations at technical meetings and conferences. Listings of peer-reviewed scientific articles and oral/poster presentations resulting from recent BAQS monitoring activities are provided below.

Hyun-Deok Choi, Jiaoyan Huang, Sumona Mondal, Thomas M. Holsen. Variation in concentrations of three mercury (Hg) forms at a rural and a suburban site in New York State. Science of the Total Environment, 448, 96-106, 2013.

Nenad Aleksic, Garry Boynton, Gopal Sistla, Jacqueline Perry, Concentrations and Trends of Benzene in Ambient Air over New York State during 1990-2003 Atmospheric Environment Volume 39 (2005) 7894-7905.

Appropriately Interpreting Air Quality Data in an Emergency Response, Dirk Felton, 8th Annual Interagency Workshop Using Environmental Informaton to Prepare and Respond to Emergencies, Dirk Felton, New York University Kimmel Center, July 2013.

Variations and trends in PM2.5 mass, sulfate, and carbon concentrations at a rural and an urban site in new york state , J. J. Schwab, K. L. Demerjian, O. V. Rattigan, and H. D. Felton.

Variations and trends in PM2.5 mass, sulfate, and carbon concentrations at a rural and an urban site in New York State, James J. Schwab, Kenneth L. Demerjian, Oliver V. Rattigan, and H. D. Felton, Presented at the American Geophysical Union Annual meeting, San Francisco, November 2011.

Comparison of Long-Term and Seasonal Behavior of Ultrafine Particles and Related Species Between Urban Near-Road and Area-Wide Monitors in New York City. Brian P Frank, HD Felton, Olga Hogrefe, Jacqueline Perry, ROBERT A ANDERSON. American Association for Aerosol Research, 30th annual conference October 3-7, 2011, Orlando, FL.

Establishing an Ambient Mercury Baseline in New York State: Results from an EPA Community Assessment Grant, National Air Toxics Monitoring and Data Analysis Workshop Dallas, TX, April 4-7, 2011.

The View From Ground Level, a Perspective from the States, Well, at Least the Ambient Air Monitoring Perspective from one State, Dirk Felton, P.E., Health Effects Institute Annual Conference, May 1-3, 2011 Boston, MA.

Life in the Big City: Evolution of Particle Concentration, Size Distribution, and Composition on a "Typical" Summer Day in Queens, New York City. Schwab et al., (co-authors; ASRC and DEC) 29th Annual AAAR Conference, Portland OR, October 25-29, 2010.

Urban Mercury Monitoring: Data Review and Operational Notes: A Year Spent with the Tekran Speciated Ambient Mercury Analyzer at Two Urban Locations in New York State and an update of the AMNET program, Dirk Felton, Kevin Civerolo, Matt Hirsh: NYSDEC, MARAMA Monitoring Conference, February 23, 2010.

A Year Spent with the Tekran Speciated Ambient Mercury Analyzer at Two Urban Locations in New York State, Dirk Felton, Kevin Civerolo, Matt Hirsh: NYSDEC Bureau of Air Quality Surveillance, 2009 EPA National Ambient Air Monitoring Conference.

Tonawanda New York Community Air Quality Study, Paul Sierzenga, NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation, 2009 EPA National Ambient Air Monitoring Conference.

Speciated PMcoarse by Difference: A look at a year of XRF data in New York City and in Niagara Falls, New York, Dirk Felton, Kevin Civerolo and Oliver Rattigan, EPA National Monitoring Conference, 2006.

New York State Urban and Rural Measurements of Continuous PM2.5 Mass by FDMS TEOM and BAM: Evaluation and Comparisons with the FRM, D. Felton, O.V. Rattigan, K.L. Demerjian, J.J. Schwab,.AAAR 2005, February 7-11, 2005.

The Bureau's tasks and responsibilities are carried out by staff in four Sections. While the field operators are stationed throughout the State, the managers are physically located in the Central Office in Albany (Northern Monitoring, Network Operations), our Region 2 Office in Long Island City (Southern Monitoring), and the SUNY East Campus in Rensselaer (Monitoring Support). Functionally, the Northern Monitoring Section is responsible for ambient air monitoring sites in upstate New York north of and including the counties of Rockland and Putnam. The Southern Monitoring Section is responsible for ambient air monitoring sites in the counties of Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, and those counties comprising the City of New York. Currently there are 55 active sites statewide. Figures 3.1 and 3.2 show monitoring site locations for the two monitoring operations, respectively.

Information pertaining to each monitoring site including site photo, location, parameters monitored, sampling frequency, and analysis methodologies is provided below for the two monitoring operations.

Most of the monitoring sites meet the siting criteria requirements for the parameters monitored as specified in Appendix E of 40 CFR Part 50. For the few sites that do not meet all of the siting requirements, we have demonstrated to EPA that in all instances the site is as representative of the monitoring area as it would be if the siting criteria were being met, and that the monitor or probe cannot reasonably be located so as to meet the siting criteria because of physical constraints. Waivers have been granted by the Regional Administrator for these sites.